+(Intro) Today we have the memorial of St Lutgard who deeply touched the life of one of our brothers, Fr Louis Merton who wrote a biography of her called What are These Wounds. Let us take a moment to reflect on our sins and failures to be true to our love of Christ.
(After the gospel) Our gospel is especially fitting for today’s memorial of St Lutgard, Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us so as to be children of our heavenly Father.
I know I found myself deeply moved when reading Merton’s biography of Lutgard. Merton presents her as an early forerunner to the modern devotion to the Sacred Heart. She experienced a mystical vision where Christ allowed her to rest against his chest, culminating in an “exchange of hearts”.
Christ’s love is always taking us beyond ourselves, beyond the limits of own efforts, into allowing his presence to take hold of our hearts. Of ourselves, we can really do nothing of lasting worth. But by the gift of grace, with his love taking over, we can bring a lasting joy to a world so much in need.
1 Kgs 21:17-29; Matt 5:43-48